Have you been thinking about updating your kitchen? Many of you got in touch with us in our last giveaway to say it’s the room that needs to be renovated first!

We’re always looking out for simple ways we can update our home, and the fresh new look of this house project is great. There are some simple ideas in this before and after article showing how the Strauss family has updated their home. By ditching the darker furnishings and going for neutral colors, the room is brighter without having to knock down any walls or add new windows.

This family home is in Mission Viejo, a picturesque city nestled in the Saddleback Valley, south of Los Angeles, California. With its easy climate and California’s reputation as the Golden State, it’s no wonder that people enjoy living here.

The Strauss family are actively involved in their local community, with the kids enrolled at school nearby, and everybody taking part in a lot of sports and hobbies. After a plumbing leak damaged the kitchen floors, they decided it was time to re-do the entire living area and asked Tracy at Gilmore Design Studio to help them out.

What do you think of the change? The color scheme has been completely rejuvenated, with the classic red, white and blue. White is a simple color that reflects light. Now that the walls, ceiling and kitchen cupboards are a brighter cleaner tone, the light that streams in through the windows is used to maximum efficiency.

A color board is helpful to see the different shapes and styles come together. Tracy explained that the couple asked for neutral tones with pops of color, which you can see with the red chairs and window covers in the room. She says that “to me, the dark blue island is neutral – like a pair of jeans.” Which I love; what a fantastic idea. A classic pair of jeans are an easy match with other styles in your wardrobe and it’s great to see this idea moved through to home design too.

Allison Strauss is extremely happy with the new workspace; especially the island counter. “Our favorite bit is the kitchen island. We love the design of the countertop, and the color of the cabinets. We are thrilled we extended the top and made it a sitting area with the stools.”

The shelves at the end of the unit have been replaced, with an extended top so that it works as a bar-style seating area. The surface is made from Caesarstone Calacutta Nuvo. “Quartzite is one of my favorite countertop materials because it is bulletproof. It is perfect for a family because it is so easy to care for,” Tracy adds.

Additional lighting fixtures were also hung over the island area. Moving the light over the center of the island allows for you to do more of your cooking and prep work in the middle of the room, which is more social and communal, as opposed to being tucked away facing the wall.

Alongside the window was a ledge that has been reupholstered into a banquette dining area. Faux vinyl is used along the seating area making it easy to clean up after dinner. The round table has been replaced by a longer and rectangular one to complement the bench-style seating, and the wood pattern works well with the new flooring. Along with the silver chairs, it makes for a more fun and casual dining experience; a great setting for the evening family time.

The flooring continues through to the living area, having pulled up the carpet that separates the two areas. While the right-angled sofa helps to keep a soft divide between the areas, the Americana color theme stretches through and keeps the room bright and cheerful.

As the curtains and sofa are neutral colors, the rug is allowed to have that cheerful and upbeat pattern without drowning out the rest of the room. It brings something fresh and new to the decor. Would you be able to incorporate something similar into your own room?

Finishing off the tour of this house, take a look at the mirrored wall unit that has been replaced with that same gunmetal blue that acts calming and neutral. It’s a lovely place for family photographs and is a welcoming warm sight for when you walk in through the door. It’s a great feel for a friendly family home.